Car-stakes.



T. M. SCHMITZ.

GAR STAKES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1912. 1,085,495. Patented Jan. 27, 19m

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WITNESSES INVENTOR COLUMBIA PLANOGRAFILCQ. WASHINGTON, D. c.

T. M. SGHMITZ.

GAR STAKES. V

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1912.

Patented Jan. 27, 191i 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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THOMAS MATI-IIAS SCHMITZ, 0F CRANBROOK, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA.

CAR-STAKES.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it lmown that I, THOMAS MATHIAs SCHMITZ, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, residing at Oranbrook, British Columbia, Dominion ofCanada,.have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Stakes,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in looking and releasingmechanism for log car stakes and has to do with an improved constructioninvolving? preferably a fixed and a releasable stake, and lockingmechanism for holding the releasable stake in place, and adapted to bequickly and easily manipulated to release the removable stakes under theaction of the weight of the logs.

The device of my invention will be more fully described in connectionwith the accompanying drawings and will be more particularly pointed outin and by the appended claims.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of the body of aflat car adapted for hauling logs and illustrating the ap plication ofmy invention thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a log bolsterforming a part of my invention. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of aportion of the bolster, in side elevation, illustrating a portion of myimproved locking mechanism on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is an edge viewof the mechanism shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective detail view ofa releasable lock element, forming a part of my improved lock mechanism.Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of a lock retainer, forming a partof my improved mechanism. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an operatingmember for the lock mechanism. Fig. 8 is a perspective View showing anoperative connection between the operating member and the lockmechanism.

Like numerals of reference designate similar parts throughout thedifierent figures of the drawings.

As illustrated, the platform of a fiat car is designated as a whole at 1and trans versely disposed thereon is a log supporting bolster indicatedat 2. It will be understood that a plurality of bolsters will beprovided for each car but as all of the bolsters will be of the sameconstruction only one is herein shown. The bolster 2 is preferablyprovided with concave or hollowed out end portions 3 and 4, and in orderto protect the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 16, 1912.

with a releasable 'tion by a chain 20, one

Patented Jan. 27,1914. Serial N 0. 720,557.

margins thereof I preferably secure metal facing plates 5 and 6 to thesides thereof as shown. It will be understood that each bolster will beprovided with a pair of stakes 7 and 8, and for convenience indesignating one from the other, I will hereinafter refer to the stake 7,as the fixed stake, and the stake 8, as the releasable or removablestake.

These car stakes are usually cylindrical in form and'are designed to fitthe hollowed ends 3 and 4 of the bolster, as indicated in Fig. 1. Astrap or yoke 9 is secured to the bolster 1 so as to embrace the fixedstake 7 and hold the same'in position against the end of the bolster andagainst the side of the platform 1 of the car. As a further means ofsecuring the fixed stake 7 to the bolster 2, I provide a link chain 10which encircles the stake 7, preferably at a point above the bolster 2,and passes through an opening 11 in the bolster. A snatch hook or othersuitable take up device may be provided for tightening the chain 10 butas this form of device is common in the art the same is not hereinillustrated.

At the upper end of the stake 7 a clevis 12 is attached and the same isconnected chain 13 and a retaining chain 1 1-. The retaining chain 14 issomewhat longer than the releasable chain 13. Throughout thespecification in referring to the connecting elements as chains, it willbe understood that any other equivalent connecting means may be used,within the scope of my invention.

The releasable chain 13 is connected with an eye member 15 having astraight portion 16 adapted to be loosely disposed in an open slot 17 inthe releasable stake 8. The retain ing stake chain 14 is provided with ahook and eye permanent connection with the stake 8 which is indicated at18 and 19.

The stakes 7 and 8 are shown in the position which they would occupywhen the car is loaded with logs and the releasable chain 13 under thiscondition, would be taut and would serve to hold the upper ends of thestakes 7 and 8 in a vertical position. When the lower end 8 of thereleasable stake is released then the longer chain 14 will prevent thestake 8 from falling down on the ground. The lower end of the stake 8 isheld 1n posiend of which may be the rear side of the opposite to theside remaining end of the adjustably secured to bolster 2, or that sideshown in Fig. 2. The

chain 20 is secured to an eye 21 of a releasable locking element 22.This element 22 may be in the form of a flat strip of metal, and asshown, the same is provided with upper and lower male looking portions23 and 24. Said element tapers from its rear end toward its eye end andthe tapered edge portions are indicated at 25 and 26. A fixed lockingportion is rigidly secured to the facing plate 6 and is indicated at 27.Said fixed locking portion 27 is provided with a female locking notch28, adapted to receive the male looking portion 23, and an inclined edge29 adapted to engage the tapered edge 25 of the element 22.

A pivoted or movably mounted lock retainer is indicated at 30 and ispivoted to the plates 6 and 31. Said retainer 30 is provided with afemale or notched receiving portion 32 for receiving the male lookingportion 24. The edge 33 of the retainer 30 engages the edge 26 of theelement 22. The retainer 30 is provided with a notched or recessedportion 34 adapted to receive the upper end 35 of a trip 36 which ispivotally mounted to the plate 6 at 37. A bar 38 pivoted at 37 and 39,extends across the element 22 and serves to hold the same in coincidentrelation with the fixed locking portion 27 and the retainer 30. A lug 40secured to the fixed lock portion 27 and a lug 41 secured to theretainer 30, both overhang the locking element 22 and serve to hold thesame in the planes of the parts 30 and 27.

The locking mechanism shown in Fig. 3 is in a position to lock the chain20 and hold the stake 8 in the position shown in Fig. 1. It will be seenthat the line of pull of the chain 20 is angular to the longitudinalaxis a a of the element 22, and therefor the strain is not whollyimposed upon the locking portions 23 and 24 but is also exertedlaterally with respect to the length of the element 22 and such lateralstress or strain is taken up by the edges 29 and 33 of the parts 27 and30. l/Vhen the lower end of the trip 36 is moved to the left of Fig. 3,then the retainer 30 is released and is free to drop downwardlywhereupon the outward pressure of the logs exerted on the stake 8 willcause the same to move outwardly and the chain 20 will carry with it thereleasable locking element 22.

An operating member is provided for the locking mechanism which maycomprise a rotatable or rocking pipe 42 adapted to be disposedlongitudinally of the car and to be received in recesses 43 of thebolsters. The walls of the recesses 43 embrace the pipe 42 so as topermit the same to be oscillated or rocked to and fro but held to afixed axis of oscillation. The operating member 42 is provided with arms44 adapted for connection with links 45 one being shown pivotallyconnected with the lower end of the trip 36. A bolt 46 is connected withthe arm 44 and has a threaded end adapted to engage the upturned portion47 of the link 45. A cotter pin orlike means 48 may be employed tosecure the bolt 46 to the arm 44. The threaded end of the bolt 46provides for adjustment, initially, and also in case of wear of theparts. Means is provided for holding the operating member 42 againstmovement when the locking mechanism is in .a locked position, and suchmeans may comprise a hook 49 pivoted to the bolster 2 and provided witha'hooked end adapted to enter an opening 50 in the member 42. When themember 42 is released, the same may be rotated by inserting a rod orlike implement through holes 51.

Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, and that itis desired to unload the car, the operator will first dis connect thehook 49 from the member 42 and then rotate the member 42 to the left ofFig. 1 whereupon the trip 36 will release the retainer 30 therebreleasing the element 22, as hereinbefo-re described.

When first adjusting the stake 8, before the car is loaded, it may benecessary to employ a short chain 52, connected at its ends to thebolster as shown in Fig. 1, until outward pressure of the loaded logs isexerted upon the stake 8 to tight-en the chain 20. It isnot'contemplated that the chain 52 will remain on the car but will bedetached from the loaded cars and reused in loading other cars.

WVhile I have herein shown and described one specific embodiment of myinvention it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limitedthereto except for such limitations as the claims may import.

I claim 1. In combination, a flat car, a log bolster thereon, a fixedstake secured to one end of said bolster, a rotatable lock operatingmember loosely disposed on said car and held to a fixed line of rotationby said bolster, means for locking said member to said bolster againstrotation, locking mechanism on said bolster, a releasable stake, a chainconnecting said releasable stake with said locking mechanism, andmeansoperatively connecting said locking mechanism with said operatingmember, substantially as de scribed.

2. A flat car for carrying logs and the like, comprising in combination,a bolster disposed transversely of the said car, a stake perpendicularlydisposed with respect to the said bolster and rigidly secured to thesaid bolster at one end, a recess on the other end said bolster, awedge-shaped member carried by the free end of the said chain, a plateon the opposite side of the bolster from the aforesaid plate, membersreleasably secured to the said plate and adapted to normally secure thesaid wedge-shaped member in place against the said plate, and levermeans for releasing the said wedge-shaped 1nember, substantially asdescribed.

3. A flat car for carrying logs and the like, comprising in combination,one or more bolsters disposed transversely of the said car, a stakeperpendicularly disposedat one end of each of the said bolsters andrigidly secured thereto, stakes adapted to normally rest in a recess onthe other end of the said bolsters, plates carrying chains secured toone side of each of the said bolsters, the said chains being adapted tosecure the stakes in place in the recesses in the said bolsters, aWedge-shaped member secured to the free end of each of the said chains,plates on the opposite side of the bolsters from the aforesaid platesand members releasably secured thereto adapted to normally secure thesaid wedge-shaped members in place against the said plates, lever meansfor releasing the said wedge-shaped members, and an operating bartransversely disposed with respect to the said bolsters and carried in agroove in the said bolsters, and means for operatively connecting thereleasing members holding each of the said wedge-shaped members with thesaid operating bar, whereby all the wedge-shaped members may be releasedsimultaneously, substantially as described.

4. In combination, a log car, a bolster on said car, a releasable stakefor holding the logs in position, locking mechanism on said bolster forholding said stakes comprising a releasable locking element providedwith oppositely disposed locking portions, a fixed locking memberengaging the locking portion on one side of said element, a retainerlocking portion engaging the locking member on the other side of saidelement, and a trip for holding said retainer and elements and releasingsaid retainer and elements, substantially as described.

5. In combination, a log car, stakes on opposite sides of said car forretaining the logs thereon, and means for connecting the upper ends ofsaid stakes and comprising a releasing chain releasably connected withone stake and rigidly connected with the other stake, and a retainingchain of increased length with respect to the releasing chain andrigidly connected with both stakes, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS MATHIAS SCHMITZ- Witnesses:

N ETTIE KING, HAROLD E. SOANTLEBURY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

